Candle Media plans to split into two divisions: animation will be folded into Moonbug and the rest will move into a live-action division called Candle Studios (Ben Smith/Semafor)

Mediagazer: Candle Media plans to split into two divisions: animation will be folded into Moonbug and the rest will move into a live-action division called Candle Studios (Ben Smith/Semafor)

Top News:

New York Times:

Sources: Barry Diller is exploring a bid to take control of Paramount; his digital media conglomerate, IAC, has signed NDAs with National Amusements— Mr. Diller, a digital media pioneer, lost a bidding war for Paramount Pictures decades ago. Now, he's making a run at its parent company.
Discussion: CNBC, The Wrap, @benmullin, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, @jbmp51, @webbarr, Forbes, @jgdean14, @davidgura, @davidkeithlaw, Los Angeles Times, @davidpoland, IndieWire, @susanlitv, TVNewsCheck, Deadline and Bloomberg

Discussion:

Lillian Rizzo /
CNBC: Media mogul Barry Diller weighs a bid to gain control of Paramount

Alexei Barrionuevo /
The Wrap: Over 3 Decades Later, Barry Diller Takes Another Swing at Paramount

Ben Mullin /
@benmullin: scoop w/@LaurenSHirsch: Barry Diller makes a run at Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/... $PARA

Jason Miller /
@jbmp51: Memories....of deals of the past Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount https://www.nytimes.com/...

Antonio Pequeño IV /
Forbes: Billionaire Barry Diller In Potential Takeover Talks With Paramount Following Skydance's Failed Bid, Report Says

David Gura /
@davidgura: Barry Diller scrambles the Sun Valley agenda. Los Angeles Times: Barry Diller expresses interest in Redstone family firm (and Paramount controlling shareholder)

David Poland /
@davidpoland: Ha. Diller has been saying studios are dead for years. But this is pretty much why Redstone dumped Ellison. If the company is being sold for parts, Diller is more skilled than most at that. Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of Paramount - NYT https://www.nytimes.com/...

Brian Welk /
IndieWire: The Latest Contender for Paramount Is Its Former CEO Who Once Let the Studio Slip Away

Susan Li /
@susanlitv: Barry Diller Explores Bid to Take Control of #Paramount Diller tried to acquire Paramount Pictures in early '90s Also head of Paramount Pictures in 1974 at the age of 32 Day of interest in $para after Zaz & #WarnerBrosDiscovery explore a streaming tieup https://www.nytimes.com/...

Erik Pedersen /
Deadline: Barry Diller Kicking Tires On Paramount Bid - Report

Hannah Miller /
Bloomberg: Barry Diller Explores Possible Paramount Bid, NY Times Says

RELATED:

CNBC:

Sources: Paramount Global is in discussions with other companies about merging Paramount+ with their streamers; WBD is interested in merging Max and Paramount+— Paramount Global is holding talks with other entertainment companies about merging its Paramount+ streaming service with an existing platform.

Discussion:

Todd Spangler /
Variety: Could Max and Paramount+ Merge? Warner Bros. Discovery Open to Exploring Paramount Streaming Joint Venture

David Satin /
The Streamable: Is ‘Paramount+ Max’ Coming Soon? Paramount Discussing Merging Streaming Services With Warner Bros. Discovery

Wayne Friedman /
MediaPost: Paramount Seeks More Aggressive Streaming Merger Deal: CNBC @cynicalfate: @DiscussingFilm I want to be happy for more content in one place but they just always get way more expensive as a result.

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Could Warner Bros Discovery's Max be the partner Paramount+ is looking for? There's interest from David Zaslav's company in a deal. And it could jumpstart a “streaming 2.0” re-rationalization of the industry that could help all players. https://www.cnbc.com/...

Martin Peers /
The Information: Meta Falls Afoul of Europe's Regulators

Alex Sherman /
Alex Sherman on LinkedIn: Paramount Global is looking for a partner for Paramount+. Warner Bros Discovery has interest in a deal. … @culturecrave: @CNBC Combined the companies carry nearly $60B in debt, with a substantial part due to the aggressive pivot to streaming Paramount also confirms they're looking at partnering with a technology platform https://www.cnbc.com/... @cnschedules: https://www.cnbc.com/... Should note Paramount has been kinda wishy-washy so who knows what the hell is gonna happen. They passed merger talks with WBD, Sony, and Skydance for Paramount as a whole. Paramount is also considering partnering with a technology platform.

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: WBD expresses interest in unifying Max, Paramount Plus

Luke Bouma /
Cord Cutters News: Paramount+ & Max Are Reportedly In Talks to Merge Streaming Services

Deadline:

VFX company DNEG raised $200M from Abu Dhabi's UASG at a $2B+ valuation to expand its Brahma division, which is developing an AI-powered, photo-real CGI creator— London-based The DNEG Group has secured a $200M capital injection from Abu Dhabi investment firm United Al Saqer Group (UASG).

Discussion:
The Wrap, Proactive, Business Standard, The Hollywood Reporter, @dneg, Financial Times, DNEG and @malhotra_namit

Discussion:

Lucas Manfredi /
The Wrap: DNEG Group Secures $200 Million Investment From Abu Dhabi's United Al Saqer Group

Etan Vlessing /
The Hollywood Reporter: ‘Dune’ VFX House DNEG Raises $200M for AI Innovation From Abu Dhabi-Based Fund @dneg: The DNEG Group is pleased to announce a $200 million investment from @UnitedSaqer , valuing the DNEG Group at over $2 billion. With this investment, the DNEG Group will accelerate its strategy of innovation & diversification. More: https://www.dneg.com/...

Namit Malhotra /
@malhotra_namit: Excited about the partnership with @UnitedSaqer. This strategic investment will accelerate our plans to redefine our business model & position our Group as a global provider of the highest-quality solutions across media, entertainment, and gaming. #AI #PrimeFocus #DNEG

Wall Street Journal:

Sources: Imagine Entertainment, led by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, is seeking a buyer after receiving some inbound interest from a potential suitor— Production company behind ‘Apollo 13’ is working with bankers to explore a sale — Imagine Entertainment, the Hollywood production company known …

Discussion:
Deadline, Variety, The Wrap and TVNewsCheck

Discussion:

Mike Fleming Jr /
Deadline: Imagine Partners Brian Grazer & Ron Howard Tap JP Morgan To Explore Possible Sale

Cynthia Littleton /
Variety: Imagine Entertainment Enlists J.P. Morgan to Field Sale Offers

Umberto Gonzalez /
The Wrap: Ron Howard and Brian Grazer Look to Sell Imagine Entertainment | Report

New York Times:

Terence Samuel, the editor-in-chief of USA Today, leaves the role after a year; Caren Bohan, the executive editor of politics, is named interim EIC— Terence Samuel, a veteran journalist, had been in the role for a year. — Terence Samuel, the editor in chief of USA Today …

Discussion:
USA Today, Poynter, The Wrap, @tatecurtis, @davidfolkenflik, @deggans, @dankennedy_nu, @katie_robertson, TVNewsCheck, MediaPost, The Hill and Deadline

Discussion:

Tom Jones /
Poynter: Former Biden press secretary Jen Psaki weighs in on the ‘bad debate’ — plus more media news and tidbits

David Folkenflik /
@davidfolkenflik: News: USAToday editor-in-chief Terence Samuel @terencesamuel ousted, one week shy of a year in the role, according to two people with knowledge of events. Managing Editor @carenbohan said to lead newsroom on interim basis.

Dan Kennedy /
@dankennedy_nu: @davidfolkenflik ... I wouldn't count on that being “interim.” This is Gannett. They probably eliminated the EIC job to save a few bucks.

Katie Robertson /
@katie_robertson: NEW: Terence Samuel @terencesamuel tells me his exit from USA Today was sudden: “I wished that this had lasted a lot longer because it was a great year. We did great things in that newsroom and I wish them the very best.” https://www.nytimes.com/... https://x.com/...

Katie Robertson /
TVNewsCheck: USA Today's Top Editor Abruptly Steps Down

Ray Schultz /
MediaPost: ‘USA Today’ Editor Terence Samuel Is Leaving Post

The Wrap:

Ampere Analysis: in Q1 2024, Netflix and Amazon commissioned 53% of all original streaming titles globally, spurred by increased investment outside of the US— The growth comes from increased investment in international territories, according to Ampere Analysis

Discussion:

John Koblin /
New York Times: Netflix and Amazon Drive Bump in TV Show Market

Tony Maglio /
IndieWire: Netflix and Amazon Are Giving Us the World

Matthew Keys /
The Desk: Netflix, Prime Video commissioned most originals in Q1 2024

David Satin /
The Streamable: Netflix and Prime Video Are Investing More in Streaming Content as Global Strategies Shift to Forefront

Mansha Daswani /
WORLD SCREEN: Netflix & Prime Video Lead Streaming Originals

Erik Gruenwedel /
Media Play News: Ampere: Netflix, Prime Again Dominate Original Streaming Content Production

Julian Clover /
Broadband TV News: Netflix and Amazon dominate Originals production

Patrick Frater /
Variety: Netflix and Amazon Dominate Commissioning by Streamers, Tilting the Content Market Away From U.S., Towards Local - Study

Max Goldbart /
Deadline: Netflix & Amazon Ordered Majority Of Originals From Outside U.S. Last Quarter, Ampere Research Finds

Semafor:

Candle Media plans to split into two divisions: animation will be folded into Moonbug and the rest will move into a live-action division called Candle Studios— The Scoop — Candle Media, the Blackstone-backed firm rolling up Hollywood production companies, is moving to slash costs …

Discussion:
The Wrap and @semaforben

The Moscow Times:

Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the EU; their profiles remain accessible on Apple Music and YouTube— Music streaming service Spotify has removed the songs and profiles of pro-war Russian artists sanctioned by the West, the Sweden-based company told The Moscow Times on Thursday.

Discussion:
Music Ally, Breitbart, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, @irgarner, @moscowtimes, Stereogum, Billboard, The Kyiv Independent, Consequence, Digital Music News and Hotpress

Discussion:

Stuart Dredge /
Music Ally: Spotify has removed music from some pro-war Russian artists

John Hayward /
Breitbart: Report: Spotify Removes Russian Artists Supportive of Vladimir Putin's War in Ukraine

Dr. Ian Garner /
@irgarner: The fash pop is all gone from Spotify, what a shame https://www.themoscowtimes.com/ ... @moscowtimes: In a statement sent to The Moscow Times, Spotify said its “Platform Rules clearly state that we take action when we identify content which explicitly violates our content policies or local laws.” “Upon review, these artists met the threshold for removal,” the statement added.

Chris Eggertsen /
Billboard: Spotify Removes Music by Russian Artists Supportive of Ukraine Invasion

Nate Ostiller /
The Kyiv Independent: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian singers

Ashley King /
Digital Music News: Spotify Reportedly Removes Russian Pro-War Artists, Raising Takedown Policy Questions

Caroline Kelly /
Hotpress: Spotify removes music by pro-war Russian artists

Billboard:

Merck Mercuriadis plans to step down as the chairman of Hipgnosis Song Management after closing the proposed acquisition of Hipgnosis Songs Fund to Blackstone— The company's founder calls it the “right time” to “undertake a strategic shift of focus.” — Hipgnosis Song Management announced …

Discussion:
Variety, CMU, Digital Music News, Music Week and Music Business Worldwide

Discussion:

Thania Garcia /
Variety: Merck Mercuriadis to Exit as Hipgnosis Song Management Chairman

Sam Taylor /
CMU: Merck Mercuriadis to exit Hipgnosis - hints at global songwriter advocacy initiative

Dylan Smith /
Digital Music News: Breaking: Merck Mercuriadis Announces Hipgnosis Exit, Plans to Step Away ‘Upon Closing’ of Blackstone's Acquisition

Axios:

CNBC launches a sports vertical as part of its broader plan to shift its editorial and business focus to cross-platform verticals led by subject-matter experts— - The company is expected to make more announcements about other topic areas soon. … - CNBC has hired sports valuation expert …

Discussion:
Variety, @sherman4949, @bmccandless and CNBC Press Releases

Discussion:

Brian Steinberg /
Variety: CNBC Ramps Up Sports-Business Coverage

Alex Sherman /
@sherman4949: Excited for the opportunities that will come with this. I'm one step closer to my lifelong goal of becoming @darrenrovell

Bill McCandless /
@bmccandless: If you know you know but this idea is hilarious There are no new ideas there's only good press releases about old ideas @darrenrovell @jonathanwald @SandyCannold

TechCrunch:

YouTube rolled out a policy change in June that lets people request the takedown of AI-generated or other synthetic content that simulates their face or voice— Meta is not the only company grappling with the rise in AI-generated content and how it affects its platform.

Discussion:
Shelly Palmer, @baekdal, Engadget, MEDIANAMA, Mashable and The Register, more at Techmeme »

Discussion:
Shelly Palmer: You Can Ask YouTube to Take Down AI-Generated Content That Simulates Your Face or Voice

Thomas Baekdal /
@baekdal: This is a good first step, but fundamentally, it should be illegal to do this at all without explicit prior consent from the person being used. We need legislation around AI.

Will Shanklin /
Engadget: New YouTube policy lets you request the removal of AI-generated content that uses your likeness

Kamya Pandey /
MEDIANAMA: YouTube allows users to take down AI-generated content featuring their likeness

Elizabeth de Luna /
Mashable: YouTube says Gen Z may love fan-made content more than original content

Matthew Connatser /
The Register: YouTube confirms it'll pull AI fakes in 48 hours if a complaint's upheld

Wired:

Some YouTube employees detail internal deliberations about content relating to the Israel-Hamas war and accuse the company of inconsistent moderation— Insiders have shared YouTube's playbook for handling the Gaza crisis. They argue that it shows inconsistent enforcement.